The 8th Delphi Economic Forum commenced with a speech by the President of the Hellenic Republic, Katerina Sakellaropoulou who spoke with particularly fervent words about the conference, saying that it is an international institution that has become a point of reference for Greece.

In her speech, Mrs. Sakellaropoulou made a special reference to the war in Ukraine and the struggle of the Ukrainian people. Also, as she said, the Russian invasion marked the geopolitical coming of age of Europe, since the Union “realised that economic and energy interdependence with authoritarian regimes is not enough to ensure peace”.

Speaking about Greece, as a country with deep participation and proven commitment to a United Europe and the West, the President of the Republic pointed out that “Greece looks to the future with optimism and self-confidence” and reminded the attendees that “as the ninth oldest member of today’s of the European Union, [Greece] plays a leading role in supporting the accession process of the Western Balkans and in upgrading the political and economic cooperation of all the countries of the eastern Mediterranean and south-eastern Europe”.

The President also referred to the improvement of the climate between Greece and Turkey, after the devastating earthquakes of February, saying that it “brings the two neighbouring peoples closer together and creates hope for a new, better era in bilateral relations”.

Concluding, she underlined that “in a world of tectonic shifts, in which the density of time often tests our ability to predict or understand them, Greece is called upon to coordinate and change as well, in order to remain a force of European stability and reliability in its area”.